UPPER DARBY — Bonner-Prendergast seniors Collin and Christian DiGalbo stayed together after it was all over.
They were the last players to leave the field at Upper Darby High School
Christian, the All-Catholic League lineman, waited around as his twin brother received treatment for an injured ankle. His eyes slightly bloodshot and teary, Christian pointed to Collin, the league’s MVP runnerup, who had just been through hell.
“Proud of him,’ he said. “I’m proud of my entire team.’
The extent of Collin’s injury was unknown, but the healing process could require more than a little tape and some rest. He endured constant pain in Bonner-Prendie’s 27-14, Catholic League Class AAA semifinal loss to Archbishop Ryan Saturday.
“Every second, every move that I made, I could feel it,’ he said. “I aggravated it in the third quarter. It was hard to do anything after that.’
Without their quarterback operating at semi-full strength, the Friars couldn’t keep up with a hungry Ryan team.
While DiGalbo rushed for two first-half touchdowns, he was trumped by the amazing Samir Bullock, whom DiGalbo finished second to in Catholic League MVP voting. Bullock showed why he is one of the most highly-touted running backs in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Few, if any, are better.
Bullock amassed 260 yards and two touchdowns to lead Ryan to victory and a trip to the Catholic League championship. The Raiders (5-5) will attempt to snap Archbishop Wood’s incredible streak of six straight titles next Saturday at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
“We wanted this bad,’ Bullock said. “The first game we played them, we were a little shaky and they beat us by one point (21-20). We wanted revenge and we got it.’
Bonner won that regular-season game on Ryan’s turf. DiGalbo connected with Tyler Higgins on a touchdown pass and two-point conversion with no time left in the fourth quarter. Bullock made sure history wouldn’t repeat itself this time around. He set the tone by snapping off an 80-yard touchdown run on Ryan’s first series. Bullock entered play with 15 TDs and over 1500 yards, and he patted those numbers against the Friars.
“Coach had an article up with the quarterback from Bonner saying (after Bonner’s loss to Archbishop Wood) that they were going to have to be smarter when they played Wood again. We took that as a shot against us,’ Bullock said. “We had a chip on our shoulder. … They have a couple of All-Catholics, a great quarterback, a great running back and great receivers. We had to give it our all, offensively and defensively. If it was just me out here, I don’t think we’d win. These guys that are out here with me, they made big plays on offense and big plays on defense.’
Indeed, Ryan was far from a one-man wrecking crew. Quarterback Matt Romano was 10 of 13 for 137 yards and two touchdowns. On the first play of the second half, Romano hit Seneca Williams on a deep route for 60 yards to give Ryan the lead.
“They have a few guys that can go 60 yards and get into the end zone. We kind of needed that big play and we didn’t get it,’ said Bonner coach Greg “Bubba’ Bernhardt. “We’re a team that has to work our way down the field. They’re a heck of a football team and (Bullock) is a heck of a back. They made plays.’
The Friars weren’t expecting the Raiders to air it out as often as they did.
“It was very surprising,’ Collin said. “They have a great running back in Samir and we weren’t expecting them to throw it that much. Our pass defense is a little underrated, and they just couldn’t pass the test tonight. (Ryan) has some fast guys, big-time players.’
Aaron McCastle scampered 47 yards to jump-start Bonner’s offense in the third quarter, but the Friars couldn’t cash in. Penalties and a sack of DiGalbo moved them from the Ryan 15-yard line to the 34. On fourth and long, the Friars couldn’t make anything happen. Shaun Douglas came up with a sack of Romano to help force a three-and-out on Ryan’s next possession, but the Friars couldn’t capitalize.
Though the Friars (8-2) won’t get another shot at Wood, they’ve posted the most wins by a Bonner program in 13 years.
“What we did this year is going to probably help Bonner out for the next five years,’ Christian said. “Us seniors, we’re the building blocks of this program.’
The season is not over yet for Bonner. The Friars have a showdown with Malvern Prep at Cardinal O’Hara on Thanksgiving Eve.
Don’t be surprised to see Collin out there with his boys.
“I hope it’s just a bad sprain, but whatever it is,’ he said, “I’ll be out there for Thanksgiving.’
